Viking Cruises - Summer Western Mediterranean/Winter Rhine River cruise tips

Did the Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel. Really great. We stayed two days before the start in Amsterdam and explored.


Good food on the ship that changes based on local fresh ingredients.

How is Empires of the Med on the Star?
That is the exact cruise we are taking in April.
Not to hijack the thread, but the OP did ask for advice about Viking.

They are very tuned to their guest experience. We had less than 200 people on our River Cruise and the cruise director knew us by name after the first day. They offer some of the best free and paid excursions available. The food was incredible. They try to serve local food to where you will be located during the cruise. If you are in Germany, they will try to showcase some German favorites. The other perk is unlimited beer and wine during dining times.

I wish we could cruise Viking every time but unfortunately I do not have that luxury lol.

Absolutely. You’re gonna have a blast. Of course we’re looking forward to the next three stops which should be even better.

After multiple Viking cruises, a few consistent facts stand out:

• The ships are small and uncrowded. Viking ocean ships carry about 930 guests (ocean; 192 on most river ships), which keeps public spaces calm and easy to navigate.
• The environment is adult-focused. No casinos, no kids’ areas, and no loud entertainment venues. The atmosphere stays quiet and relaxed.
• Stateroom design is efficient and consistent. Rooms have strong storage, good bathrooms, and practical layouts. Certain decks (like Deck 5) offer especially quiet, stable locations.
• Service is steady and professional. Staff turnover is low, and service levels are reliable across ships and itineraries.
• Food quality is consistently high. Multiple dining venues, no extra-charge specialty restaurants, and good day-to-day consistency.
• Itineraries emphasize ports and culture. Viking focuses on destination-heavy routes, longer port days, and included tours rather than sea days and onboard upselling.
• Pricing is straightforward. Wi-Fi, specialty dining, laundry rooms (ocean) and many excursions are included, reducing add-on costs.
• The overall experience is predictable in a good way. Ship layout, service style, and amenities are nearly identical across the fleet, so you know what you’re getting each time.

These are the reasons Viking has become a reliable choice for us. Pricing. Service. Reliable experience.

UPDATED

Note: I am currently on an ocean cruise and some of this may not apply for river cruising!

Differences

Viking’s river ships offer a smaller, more streamlined dining setup with one main restaurant and a casual lounge, serving regional dishes tied closely to the day’s port. Wine and beer at lunch and dinner are included, but selections are modest and vary by region. On Viking’s ocean ships, guests get multiple dining venues, broader menus, and more specialty options at no extra charge. The included wine and beer program is similar in concept but features a wider range, and the optional Silver Spirits package covers more bars, cocktails, and premium pours than what’s available on the river fleet.

I don’t normally book the optional tours because they cost some more and if you have enough time, you could do things directly through Viator or other organizations at a much cheaper price however we did do the Krka National Park in Croatia today. I would say this is actually the highlight of the trip and well worth the money.

Got another excursion we just did! Wow!

Postojna Cave is a major European cave system known for its huge chambers and easy mini-train access, and Predjama Castle is a rare fortress built directly into a cliff. They’re worth visiting because they highlight Slovenia’s most impressive natural and historic landmarks in one stop.